Violin



(No Model.)

T. PEAKER.

Violin.

No. 231,084. Patented Aug. 10,1880.

NFETERS. PfloTuLlTHuGnAPuzR, WASHINGTON D c UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIOEQ THOMAS PEAKER, OF SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS.

VIOLIN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 231,084, dated August 10, 1880.

Application filed April 14, 1880. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THoMAs PEAKER, of Springfield, in the county of Sangamon and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Violins, Guitars,

and all that class of stringed instruments;

and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use it, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in violins, guitars, and all that class of instruments; and it consists in placing in the body a number of separate and independent strings, each one of which has a separate adjusting device of its own, whereby the tension of each string can be regulated without any regard to the others, and whereby the stringsin the body can be given an entirely different tension, or

the same tension as the strings upon which the performer plays, as will be more fully described hereinafter.

The accompanying drawing represents a horizontal section of my invention.

A represents the body of a violin, guitar, or any other similar musical instrument having a hollow body. Fastened in one end of this body, upon separate hooks or catches B, are a number of strings or iron bars, 0, each one being of a different size and having a different tension, or all may be of the same size and have the same tension, as may be preferred. The other ends of these strings or bars are fastened to the angular nuts D, which are passed through the outer end of the body, and each one of which nuts is moved back and forth by means of the set-screw I, which passes throughthe metallic plate H on the outer end of the body. By turning these screws the nuts can either be drawn outward or allowed to move inward, and thus the tension of each one of the strings or bars can be regulated independently of the others, or all of them may 5 be given the same tension. These strings or bars being stretched through the body, and having either the same tension as the strings upon which the performer plays or a different 'tension therefrom, the body will be given a greater vibration while the instrument is being played upon, and hence the volume of sound will be greatly strengthened and the tone of the instrument greatly improved. These strings or bars extend from one end to the other of the body, and are kept entirely separate and independent from each other and all other devices except their regulating-screws.

I am aware that strings have been placed in the body of Violins; but in no case have they been made separate and independent of each other and each one been provided with a tension device of its own, so as to increase or decrease its tension, according to the wishes of the performer.

Having thus described my invention, I claim 1. In amusical instrument, the combination of two or more strings or bars, C, which extend from one end of the body to the other, and which are separate and independent from the strings upon which the performer plays, each string or bar having a tension device of its own placed in the outer end of the body, substantially as shown.

2. The combination of the body A, two or more strings or bars, 0, the angular nuts D, and set-screws I, the parts being arranged and combined to operate substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this 5th day of April, 1880.

THOMAS PEAKER.

Witnesses:

R0131. Wnnsrnn, SAMUEL BLooDeooD. 

